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Also known as: skos:narrowMatch
A mapping where one concept is narrower than the other across vocabularies.
DESCRIPTION
Narrow Match links a concept to a more specific concept in another scheme, enabling detailed alignment across hierarchical differences. It supports fine-grained discovery and prevents loss of specificity in multi-vocabulary environments. In SKOS, narrowMatch complements broadMatch and maintains clarity across taxonomic levels. Applied carefully, it improves precision without fragmenting search results.
ALTERNATIVE DEFINITIONS
W3C SKOS Primer
skos:narrowMatch links a concept to a narrower concept in a different concept scheme.
Defines cross-scheme hierarchical refinement.
W3C SKOS Reference
skos:narrowMatch is used to state that one concept is narrower than another across different concept schemes.
Emphasizes directionality toward greater specificity across schemes.
RELATED TERMS
Mapping Relation Simple Knowledge Organization System Knowledge Representation Class Hierarchy Thesaurus Value Set Hierarchy RDF Alignment
COMPETING TERMS
KNOWLEDGE AREAS
Semantic & Knowledge Modeling Metadata Management
TARGET AUDIENCE
Data Steward Information Analyst Data Modeler
EXTERNAL SOURCES
- Wikipedia - Simple Knowledge Organization System
- W3C - Primer section on narrowMatch
- W3C - Reference for SKOS mapping properties
TOP QUESTIONS
When is Narrow Match the right choice?
Use Narrow Match when the target concept is more specific than the source concept across distinct vocabularies.
Category: Requirements
What is a common error with Narrow Match?
Using it within the same scheme for hierarchical modeling. Mapping properties are intended for inter-scheme relations.
Category: Mistakes
How does Narrow Match influence precision?
It increases precision by directing users to more specific concepts while preserving cross-scheme alignment.
Category: Impact
Is Narrow Match directional?
Yes. It denotes the target as narrower than the source, complementing broadMatch in the opposite direction.
Category: Example
How should Narrow Match decisions be documented?
Provide evidence, rationale, reviewers, and provenance. Monitor downstream effects on retrieval.
Category: Best practices
What risks arise from misapplied Narrow Match?
Users may be funneled to overly specific categories, missing broader relevant content.
Category: Risk
How does Narrow Match compare to Exact Match?
Narrow Match expresses hierarchy, not equivalence. Exact Match implies interchangeability across schemes.
Category: Alternatives
Which standards formalize Narrow Match?
W3C SKOS includes narrowMatch among its mapping properties for inter-scheme alignment.
Category: Standard
Can Narrow Match improve analytics?
Yes. It supports finer segmentation and accurate roll-ups by preserving granularity across vocabularies.
Category: Application